You’ve probably heard of personal branding in terms of career development, but have you ever thought about how it could be applied more broadly? By creating your own brand that guides decision-making at home, you can live a simpler and more organized life. You’ll be able to align your buying and decorating choices according to what is “on brand” for you. So, instead of ending up with a house full of “everything awesome,” you can have a home that truly represents who you are and how you want to live.
Your House Has a Voice Have you ever walked into someone’s home and immediately learned something about both their taste and their values? When people make consistent decisions in line with their brand, their house literally tells a story.
A house might say, I’m…
All About Technology
Entertainment-focused
Modern / Minimalist
Into Sustainable Living
Cozy
Supporting Local Artists
Here for the Animals
etc.
Uncomplicate Your Decisions Buying, decorating and organizing decisions can really bog a person down. But when you define your personal brand, some of these decisions are practically made for you. For example, if you've determined that you want to have clean, uncluttered, horizontal spaces, then deciding where the cooking utensils should go is simple. While someone else might want them in a canister or utensil crock on the counter, your style dictates that they should be put away in the nearest drawer. So, instead of shopping for a new decorative utensil crock, you should consider drawer liners and drawer dividers. Because you’ve established some simple brand guidelines, you also know that your small appliances will likely need homes in the cabinets or pantry instead of on the countertop. Easy-peasy!
Choose What Defines Your Brand Have you ever known someone with a signature scent? Maybe they wear Chanel No. 5. Or, if you grew up in the 90s like me, maybe you knew someone who wore Victoria Secret's Love Spell or Bath and Body Works' Juniper Breeze. When someone wears a certain scent every day, it becomes part of their identity. The same can be said about any element of your life you choose to make part of your distinctive brand. These conscious selections can help you live a simpler, more authentic life. It could be anything from funky eyewear to cultural décor, as long as you feel it reveals a little truth about yourself. Defining yourself in this way can help you avoid the “shiny object syndrome” that so often leads to regrettable purchases.
Establishing Personal Priorities and Boundaries Your brand can go beyond aesthetics and really help you when it comes to establishing healthy routines, relationships and social codes. For example, if you've decided family dinners at the table are part of your brand, an activity that requires you to be on Zoom call at 6pm every evening is an easy "pass" because it doesn’t align with your brand. Perhaps self-care is your priority, and you can set appropriate boundaries so that time is reserved. You might also want to think about things like how you want to present yourself in public. Are you comfortable in pajamas or sweats, or is a more polished look your thing? There are a myriad of ways to define yourself!
How to Create Your Personal Brand So, you understand how branding in your private life can be beneficial and aid in your organizing and productivity journey. Now, let’s talk about how to go about actually creating your personal brand.
Introspection - Your personal brand is based on your values, preferences and desired lifestyle. Therefore, you must take the time to get to know yourself, your tendencies and your nature. Slowing down to observe your habits, journaling, and working with a trusted friend or coach are just a few ways to help you define your brand characteristics.
Definition - Once you've gotten to know yourself and your preferences a little better, you can define your brand elements. There are many ways to express your brand, but here are just a few examples.
a signature color
an aesthetic style (minimalist, vintage, luxe, etc.)
source/origin (i.e. handmade vs. mass-produced, material types, local origin)
convenience
values (i.e. sustainability, cruelty-free, fair trade)
quality
intangible characteristics (margin, ambiance, quality of life)
Application - Once you've decided on your brand elements, it's important to consider how you will apply them. Is this strictly an aesthetic brand or are you able to apply your brand elements to other parts of your life like your relationships and time management? Your personal brand can direct your purchases and selections as well as your edits.
Beware of the Re-brand! It can be easy to see a lovely retail display or advertisement and say, "Oh! I like that. That's my brand!" But then, you might see something very different later that also appeals to your senses and say, "Oh, now that's my brand!" If you ever worked for a company that "re-branded," you know that there’s a lot that goes into that overhaul process. So be cautious about changing your mind or having too wide of a definition of your brand. Give yourself time to consider, digest and really settle into what you want for your curated life before you make too many changes or pivots.
Let Us Help You After you’ve defined your personal brand, you may need some help resetting your space to make it truly represent you. Remember, we’re here to help!
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